President of the Republic received the Russian Foreign Minister

President of the Republic Vahagn Khachaturyan received the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, Sergey Lavrov.

Welcoming the President, Sergey Lavrov stated:

“Thank you for the opportunity to visit You, to convey greetings from Vladimir Putin, and to express hope that You will approve of the useful negotiations we held here today, as a continuation of the instructions given to us by the President and the Prime Minister. In January, my colleague Ararat Mirzoyan was in Moscow, and now I am in Yerevan. The regional forum will be held soon. It is very important that last fall our leaders agreed to fully restore our contacts, and, at least concerning the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we are fulfilling that mandate.

Today, our assessment is as follows: first of all, very useful and open discussions, without trying to overlook any nuances, in matters where our positions align 100 percent. The more open and sincere we are with each other, the easier it may become to implement what is mutually beneficial for both Armenia and the Russian Federation. We are allies, we are strategic partners. Today we once again reaffirmed our allied relations and our mutual commitment to our obligations. So, I believe this was a very useful and politically significant moment, including on a public level.”

Thanking for the visit, the President of the Republic said:

“Your visit is indeed of great importance for our relations. Already this year, we are seeing some activation in our relations, and that will continue. Thank you for Vladimir Putin’s greetings, and please extend to him my best and warm regards. The last time we met was in Turkmenistan, where we had a very interesting conversation.

I am convinced that Your visit signifies the continuation of the dialogue that has existed and is now ongoing. We have not forgotten and we appreciate the positives in our relations, and we must continue to build on those positive aspects. Our relations should develop under mutually beneficial conditions, as You also mentioned. Indeed, if there are any misunderstandings, there should be open and sincere dialogue. When there is an opportunity for such dialogue, it becomes possible to resolve all issues.

This year, a visit by Valentina Matviyenko to Armenia is planned, which is also significant. Additionally, Armenian Cultural Days are planned in Russia, which is also important.

I am convinced that the steps being taken by both the Russian and Armenian authorities are aimed at the further development of bilateral relations in all spheres. The proposals voiced by both Armenia and Russia regarding regional issues, further development of relations, and the field of security are important for us. I value Your visit in this context and am confident that it will contribute to strengthening our relations.”

During the meeting, the sides discussed issues related to strengthening multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. Particular attention was paid to opportunities for economic and decentralized cooperation. The promotion of investment in infrastructure and the continued development of infrastructure were highlighted as priorities.

The sides exchanged views on the regional situation, emphasizing the importance of establishing stable and lasting peace. During the meeting, it was stressed that cooperation between the two countries should develop based on the principles of mutual benefit, mutual respect, and trust.